Experimental investigation for graphene and carbon fibre in polymer-based matrix for structural applications

Abstract

The present paper investigates the behaviour of a polymer matrix beam reinforced with graphene and carbon fibres at nano and micro levereinforcements, respectively, to study mainly the strength aspects for structural applications. However an attempt has also been made to use a combination of both micro and nano level fillers in both individual and combined forms as reinforcements. The addition of graphene and carbon fibres in the control beams was varied from 0.1 to 0.4% percent by weight of polymer matrix. Dispersion of graphene was carried out using ultrasonic energy. Composite beams were tested under flexural in order to evaluate their mechanical property such as load-deflection criteria. These results were then compared with those obtained from plain polymer beams. The present work also investigates the optimum percentage of graphene and carbon fibres as individual and combination fillers that gave the best results in terms of enhanced mechanical properties and economical aspects as well. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy was conducted to examine the interfacial surface adhesion between the fillers and the polymer matrix. Reinforcement of polymer beams with graphene alone by weight of the polymer matrix showed enhanced results when compared to carbon fibres alone while the use of combined nano and micro reinforcements showed performance lying in between nano and micro fillers in the polymer. Flexural strength is enhanced by 35% compared to plain control beams when graphene was used as reinforcemenfillers in the polymer matrix.